Central Coast Camping (Snow, cool rigs, and great people) *Pics*

[slosurfer]

This past weekend (Mar. 14-16, 2008) Jack and I went to the Central Coast Meet and Greet for Expeditionportal at Aliso Camp in the Los Padres National Forest near Cuyama, CA. There were some really cool people there and really cool rigs. There was Jack and his military radar truck that has been converted to an rv with a studebaker grafted into the top, Bill and his bitchin VW synchro with a subaru motor, Jeff and his Sportsmobile, Thenos and Tina in their FJC, Paul in his Sportsmobile, Blair and Ewan in the Land Rover, Seth in his Sportsmobile, Tom and Denise with the suburban and custom trailer with a foldout tent, and my 4runner and trailer. The coolest person and rig by far was someone who just happened to be camping there, his name is Marcus and from Switzerland and he had a 70series landcruiser with a custom interior and poptop. Very cool person to talk to and I'm hoping to run into him again when he heads up the Big Sur Coastline.

The potluck dinners were topnotch with top shelf tequila and single malt scotch(which I unfortunately missed out on). Very cool to drool over the other rigs and meet new people who live in the same area I do.

It ended up being pretty cold and even snowed at camp (below 3000ft) for a little bit on Saturday night. Saturday Jack and I went with the FJC and Paul's Sportsmobile up Cottonwood Cyn to Sierra Madre Rd. and then to McPhereson Peak (~5800FT) It started snowing while we were up there and by the time we left there was 3" of snow and it was just getting started. It was very cool! Jack had a blast making snowballs, although he didn't like the cold back at camp and ended up retiring to his warm tent and sleeping bag early.

Sunday, the suburban starter bit the dust (brushes were gone!), so Jack and I stuck around since I was the only one who had cell service. Tom called one of his friends in ventura who drove 70miles of windy road to bring out a new starter. Got it started and we went home, which had me fighting a hell of headwind the whole way. Anyways, on to the pics:

Jeff's Sportsmobile
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7137.jpg

Bill's Synchro (sorry the pic doesn't do the colors of this rig justice)
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7139.jpg

Blair's Land Rover
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7158.jpg

Marcus' 70series diesel with poptop
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7141.jpg

Obligatory "get a pic of your rig next to Marcus' rig"
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7142.jpg

Thenos and Tina's FJC w/ Sparticus
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7175.jpg

Paul's Sportsmobile
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7178.jpg

Tom's Suburban
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7218.jpg

[slosurfer]

More pics from Saturdays drive:

beginning of Cottonwood Cyn Rd:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7164.jpg

flowers are starting to bloom
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7166.jpg

Coming up toward the top of Cottonwood Cyn
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7170.jpg

Getting "first tracks" LOL
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7172.jpg

Intersection of cottonwood cyn and sierra madre rd.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7173.jpg

view from mcphereson peak
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7183.jpg

jack exploring
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7184.jpg

storm is moving in
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7182.jpg

heading back, snow started falling pretty good
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7187.jpg

back at the intersection of cottonwood and sierra madre
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7195.jpg

following the smb down cottonwood
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7203.jpg

cottonwood cyn rd
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7205.jpg

back down in the valley
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7210.jpg

only pic I have of snow at camp
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7213.jpg

[slosurfer]

lots more pics here:

photo album (http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/)

snagged a pic of jacks amazing rv and it snowing in camp
http://www.overlandhardware.com/images/party-time.jpg

[paddlenbike]

back down in the valley
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Aliso%20Camp%20CC%20Expo%20March%2008/IMG_7210.jpg



Awesome pics. I really love this one.

[RobG]

Wow, quite a mix of rigs. One of my customers has a syncro, it's locked front and rear, winch, custom bumpers, and has the Subaru swap. I've ridden in it a few times and really like it. He's planning on doing the HID swap on his 170's based on your writeup.

Great pictures, I guess now I know why that area is one of the few in socal that has camping spots available next week (easter break). Thanks for sharing.

[slosurfer]

Wow, quite a mix of rigs. One of my customers has a syncro, it's locked front and rear, winch, custom bumpers, and has the Subaru swap. I've ridden in it a few times and really like it. He's planning on doing the HID swap on his 170's based on your writeup.

Great pictures, I guess now I know why that area is one of the few in socal that has camping spots available next week (easter break). Thanks for sharing.


I live up the street from Go Westy and they have a bunch of built Synchros out there and I drive by and drool all the time. Glad to know that someone else is going to try the LF HID swap, let me know how it goes.

That's the first time I have ever camped there, it was a cool spot. I'm sure it is crowded in the summer since it has lots of shade and it gets really hot at Cuyama. It is rare for the snow to fall that low, so it was pretty surprising to get snow at camp.



Ken, thanks, I wish April would have been there to take pics, on the way up when it was sunny with the big fluffy clouds, she could have spent hours taking pics with the flowers.

[Marc P]

That is a sweet collection of rigs....well except the sportmobile :gay:

[RobG]

Glad to know that someone else is going to try the LF HID swap, let me know how it goes.


I'm definitely going to do the swap, just need need to find some time and save up for the non Chinese lights. Changed my mind on the cheepies in light of your ballast problem. My Buddy has PIAA 600's and has had his 2nd ballast go bad for what that is worth.

Which campground was that? We might take off for a few days next week and that seems to be the only area that has some availability.

[slosurfer]

I'm definitely going to do the swap, just need need to find some time and save up for the non Chinese lights. Changed my mind on the cheepies in light of your ballast problem. My Buddy has PIAA 600's and has had his 2nd ballast go bad for what that is worth.

Which campground was that? We might take off for a few days next week and that seems to be the only area that has some availability.


Supposedly this kit is from Japan, but who really knows. :lliar: It is probably best to go with a good company (kicking myself :chair: ) :D XenonDepot's digital kits aren't too badly priced. Sending the bad ballast off today, so we'll see how this warranty plays out, so far the guy seems to be talking the talk.

That campground was Aliso Park just south of New Cuyama off of 166. Forecast looks like it should be good weather next week. It is a free campground so it doesn't have water (the creek is flowing right now thought) but it does have a couple outhouses.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres/recreation/camping/mprd/index.shtml#aliso

[Bob98SR5]

chris,

fantastic pics! love that tan LC with the popup roof tent thing

bob

[elripster]

Man I wish I could have made that one! That looked fun.

Frank